Skip to main content

Oral question asked in the House of Lords, by Baroness Symons of Vernham Dean (Labour). It was answered on Monday, 27 April 2009.


Iraq: Defence Industry Contracts

Question
My Lords, is not one of the problems the fact that DSO no longer exists and the very specialised work that it undertook is now being undertaken by UKTI? What assessment is being done to look at whether UKTI is as effective as DSO used to be, with the support that it had from the Armed Forces, in promoting British defence companies in the sort of way that the noble Lord’s Question implies?
Answer

My Lords, I do not think that there is any evidence to suggest that since the transfer of responsibilities and location for DSO there has been any diminution in its work rate or effectiveness. I think that it is actually quite desirable to extend and deepen the expertise of UKTI as a whole in both the defence and the security fields. However, if there is a concern, it is one that I will watch out for with a personal interest.


Secondary information

Type
Oral question
Reference
710 c7 
Session
2008-09
Oral question type
Supplementary
Chamber / Committee
House of Lords chamber
Subjects
Contracts Armed forces Arms trade Defence equipment Iraq Procurement
Link
View this Oral question on www.publications.parliament.uk